Rahul Gandhi on two-day Odisha visit from Monday

Bhubaneswar: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to undertake a two-day visit to Odisha from Monday to rejuvenate the party which has been out of power in the state since 2000. Gandhi, who is visiting the state for the first time after becoming AICC vice-president, would arrive at Sambalpur on Monday, according to Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik.

In his day-long programme at Sambalpur, the Gandhi family scion would hold interactions with party chiefs and other functionaries of about 17 districts. He is also likely to address party leaders and elected Sarpanchs, panchayat samiti members, district council members and representatives in urban local bodies from these districts, a senior Congress leader said.

Similarly, Rahul would be interacting with panchayat, block and district-level office-bearers of the Congress from several other districts at a personal level on February 19 at Cuttack, he said.

Rahul is also scheduled to attend a meeting with members of the extended working committee the same day.

Gandhi is also scheduled to attend a meeting with members of the extended working committee the same day. Preparations for the visit of Gandhi were supervised by senior leaders including AICC's Odisha in-charge Jagdish Tytler.

"Gandhi's visit is significant as it is the first to Odisha after he was elevated to become second in command in the party," said a senior leader adding "at a time when Congress is trying hard to regain power in the state, the visit will encourage party workers".